ChatBox

I wish the new butchers all the best in their new venture but calling it "Oxtail and Trotters." hardly rolls of the tongue (no pun intended) neither does it promote thoughts of succulent steaks, tender lamb or juicy pork chops. Please think again perhaps on the lines of Choice Cuts, Rib Eye Roast or in this Jubilee year, Crown of Lamb.

I'll try to learn to spell/type better as well!

Hi Nigel, I'll see what I can do. Can you let me have your email adress, and then I will request your conatct details? Robin.

Hi Robin, I'm game to join a LPG buying group if you want to start one. I use it for heating and cooking (Bulk Tank) but also my car is converted to LPG. If anyone has a bulk tank with a pump fitted. I know the former tennant at the White Lion (Hankelow Cottage) found the LPG prices really high at times.

Well done, Kevin! I almost wish I was back on oil. Why can't somebody do the same for Calor Gas - I have offered the company, in a small way, but they didn't even acknowledge my email!

A previous contributor has suggested that those who come by car to shop at the Co-op should park on the Car Park but for the older and less fit it is a fair traunch back with a load of groceries. Could a walkway be made between the Co-op and the Fire Station?

Not having used the on-line Repeat Prescription Service for a while, I attempted to email my usual request in to the surgery, only to have it rebuffed. I then went in through the AMP website but was again unable to place my order as I needed a pin number which I can only get from the Surgery in person. It cannot be emailed or posted to me.

So I then rang the Surgery to place my order, only to discover, surprise, surprise, that they will not take repeat prescription orders over the phone. That means that I have to go into the Surgery and join the queue to place my repeat order.

Is this the standard that we can expect of the revamped NHS? As I pointed out to the long suffering and innocent receptionist who dealt with me, why has there not been much more publicity about this change, on the website for example or large (eyesight failing these days) posters in the waiting room. After all, we are supposed to be living in the information age.

I am disturbed to see repeated posts about Dreamers under the heading, 'Thief About.' Obviously this implies something about the sellers that may or MAY NOT be the case and I think it is the duty of the Moderator to be extremely cautious unless they actively seek to encourage the issue of a writ.

From our comfortable middle class perspective it is easy to forget the trials and strife that others have to go through in order to earn a crust. Dreamers may see a compensation claim as an easier way to make some money than flogging insolvency stock out of the back of a van.

It would appear that the name on the van is appropriate as anyone leaning from a van window expecting to sell a memory foam mattress to someone on the street must be exactly that.

Having seen this "Dreamers" van several times in Audlem & Hankelow over the last 2 weeks, I Googled the company this morning, which is based in Wigan, the gentleman I spoke to assured me that it is not their company van, but he claimed they are well aware of what is happening. They say they also saw this van and took a photograph,

It appears the van is registered to a York address......(have no way of telling if this is the truth) Therefore if anyone who sees the van again, try and get the registration number, and pass on to trading standards who are allegedly aware of the situation. Or maybe even the police, because it does seem rather suspicious.

(Part 2 of 2.) Apparently Audlem's main problem is not Stafford Street or Shropshire Street but the stretch of the A525 between Bellyses Corner and the junction with Paddock Lane. The road here is narrow with detached houses on one side and a high hedge-bank on the other.

Chomper's solution is a short bypass between those two points. It would follow the line of Sandy Lane nearly to Parkers then curve left across a field to rejoin the existing road at the bottom of Paddock Lane. The bypassed section of road would of course be declassified. Drivers coming out of it would come to a roundabout at the top end and a give-way sign at the Audlem end.

Your posting may be under an apt title, Ann. About three or four weeks ago I was also stopped by a white van with Dreamers on it. They offered me a memory foam mattress as well, claiming that they had a spare one and had a long journey back to the West Midlands (I think). All I can say to others is "watch out" if you're approached by them.

Sad that a thief will steal from people doing their bit to raise money for charity. Also sad that it could be someone local.

On Thursday a white van with Dreamers written on it stopped by me in Stafford Street to ask if I would like a memory foam mattress as they had a spare on the van. This was a complete irritation to the chap in a small white van behind them. It then transpired that they had more than one size and only when I said, quite truthfully, that our beds are 7' long did they stop the sales pitch, though they looked extremely disbelieving given my lack of height.

They then stopped twice more before they reached The Square. Poor chap behind was I imagine a bit wound up by then.

If it was just a genuine chance of a bargain I am sorry for harbouring bad thoughts.

When I drive from my main residence in Norfolk to my holiday cottage in North Wales I usually stop in Audlem for some refreshment. Conversation with locals always comes round to traffic problems. So having some academic contacts I decided I would put the local problem to an artificial intelligence called Data Chomper. Its minders do not publish its workings because they might facilitate copying, but only its conclusions. Its result for Audlem is remarkable. (Part 1 of 2.).

I have a friend who has two Westlife tickets for this Tuesday 15 May at Liverpool...only problem...she lives in Burton so if you want then (reasonable offers accepted) they will have to be posted out special delivery on Monday to you!